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Book Blitz: Camp Christmas by J.K. Rock

Author: J.K. Rock Release Date: December 17, 2013 Publisher: Spencer Hill Press Genre: young adult contemporary romance Status: novella #1.5 in the Camp Boyfriend seriesSummary:Hannah never meant to be a mean girl – at Camp Juniper Point or at her high school. It just sort of happened during one painful year when her parents split and her life fell apart. Who knew being mad at the world would catapult her to popularity? But since changing the status quo would make her some serious enemies, she’s prepared to ride out her time until graduation. That is, until a camp friend calls her on the act during their school ski trip. Will Julian out her to her friends? Or will the guy she once accused of being King of the Nerds make her wish she was a whole lot more like him?

Julien “I’ve got to get a call out or a text message, but I haven’t had a signal for the last couple of hours.” I put my backpack on and wrapped my cape over it.

Say what you will about a cape; I’d be the only one warm tonight if we got stuck out here. My eyes slid to Hannah. I could probably be talked into sharing it.

Blinking, I forced myself to snap out of it. Just because she remembered some random moment we shared in fifth grade didn’t mean the past was forgiven. But it had been cool to find out she hadn’t forgotten. That it was still important to her under all the Mean Girl crap she’d worn like armor since junior high.

“I’m going with you.” She stared at me with her inscrutable eyes, her red hair curling around her shoulders damply now that the snow fell so heavy.

“Don’t go all stubborn on me,” I warned. “This isn’t the same as talking your way out of a homework assignment. There are real dangers in these woods and they’re only getting worse as it gets dark.”

Her eyes narrowed. Her mouth flattened into a thin line. “Which is why I need to protect you.”

“From bears?” I couldn’t resist.

“Exactly. I think we can both agree I have bigger claws than you.” She dug her poles in the snow. “Now get moving before we lose more light.”

I said nothing. I just started skiing.

We trudged silently for a while, the snow too fresh for any kind of speed. But after a few minutes she sidled closer.

“Thanks for not arguing with me.”

“I did argue. You just refused to listen.”

She flipped long, damp strands of auburn behind one shoulder as she sighed. “I know you think I’m this super mean chick, but—”

“You’re strong and you’re tough. That part’s cool.”

“Really?” Her voice sounded uncertain in a way that hit me right in the chest.

I swallowed down the feeling, not ready for it. Not now.

“Definitely. I don’t mind that you wanted to come with me, Hannah. I like that you speak your mind.” I debated how to put the next part. “It’s when you snark on people to make them feel small…that’s mean. But I don’t think that’s really you.”

Let her chew on that. I waited for her to jab me in the kidney with a ski pole or step on the back of my ski. But she was so quiet the only sound I heard for a long moment was the rhythmic thunk of her poles in the snow.

“Of course it’s me. I’m the one who does it.”

“Yeah, but you do it because your friends expect you to. You got a reputation for being the mean girl, and now you don’t know how to quit.”

She stopped. Skis, poles, arms…all of it just kind of wilted right there. I paused, too, turning around to see her face scrunched in a weird, thoughtful way. Frowning, she reached for her chest, her palm and her ski pole resting there like she was holding herself together.

“What?” I edged backward toward her. “Did you lose something?”

I couldn’t see the ground clearly in the shadows of shrinking daylight, but I scanned for anything she might have dropped.

“How do you know that?” She moved closer in a way that made my pulse leap. “I mean—why would you ever give me the benefit of the doubt?”

One of her skis slid between mine. She was that close.

I swallowed hard.

“You don’t fool me, Hannah.” I shrugged. “I judge people based on what I observe. What I know.”

“One time, I locked Bobby Randall in the girls’ room. His friends still call him Flush.”

“Everyone knew he was going to get pounded that day by a senior wrestler from another school. It was obvious to me you saved his life.”

She rolled her eyes. “I steal hall passes from Ms. Hanrahan’s desk all the time.”

“You and everyone else.” I noticed that I couldn’t see her freckles as well now that the sun was setting.

“I shoved Lauren Carlson off a cliff at camp.”

“Definitely mean. But it was a small cliff, if I remember correctly. And you were having the year from hell.”

She gasped. “How did you—”

“I pay way too much attention to you.”

Where the Story Starts:

About the Author:

Sisters in law Joanne and Karen Rock write Young Adult books under the pseudonym J.K. Rock. They bonded on a set of bleachers, watching their respective Rock boyfriends play baseball, and later, as young wives married into the same big family. Today, they have fun reliving teen drama on the pages of their YA books in their ongoing Camp Boyfriend series, which reviewers have noted for its authentic treatment of navigating relationships and self-identity. Individually, Joanne and Karen write adult romance books for Harlequin. Joanne is a three-time RITA Award nominee and Golden Heart winner. Her books have been reprinted in twenty-six countries and translated into twenty different languages. Karen's debut romance, Wish Me Tomorrow, has garnered critical acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of a cancer survivor's journey. You can learn more about their upcoming projects and previous releases at http://jkrock.net.

One of the giveaways is US Only, here is what you can win: signed copies of J. Lynn's Frigid, Kimberly Sabatini's Touching the Surface, J.K. Rock's Camp Boyfriend, journal, chinese lantern, pen, stickers, assorted bookmarks, friendship bracelets, Camp Boyfriend pen and mini-flashlight and Bath and Body Works Triple Moisture Cream in Aruba Coconut.

2 comments:

Thank you soooo much, Mary, for sharing Camp Christmas with your readers this week! It's always fun to be here and we're excited to have a holiday story to giveaway FREE :-). Have a fun holiday... we're closing in on it now!!